Dead-time compensation in a power supply system

ABSTRACT

One embodiment includes a power supply system. The system includes a pulse-width modulation (PWM) system configured to generate a PWM signal. The system also includes a power stage comprising a gate driver, a high-side switch, and a low-side switch. The gate driver can be configured to alternately activate the high-side and low-side switches to provide an output signal to a load in response to the PWM signal, and to provide an activation dead-time between the alternate activation of the high-side and low-side switches. The system further includes a digital delay system configured to measure the activation dead-time and to add the measured activation dead-time to the activation of the high-side switch.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 61/592,282 filed on Jan. 30, 2012, entitled ADAPTIVE DEAD TIME CORRECTION FOR PWM DRIVERS, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to electronic circuit systems, and specifically to dead-time compensation in a power supply system.

BACKGROUND

Power supply circuits, such as implemented in amplifiers, can implement a high-side switch and a low-side switch that are alternately activated to provide an output signal. The driver that provides the alternate activation of the high-side and low-side switches can be designed to ensure that the high-side and low-side switches are never activated concurrently to avoid a shoot-through current from a high-voltage rail to a low-voltage rail (e.g., ground). Thus, the driver can implement a “break before make” activation of the high-side switch with respect to the low-side switch by providing a predefined activation dead-time between activation of each of the high-side and low-side switches. However, the output signal can be substantially unstable during the activation dead-times. Furthermore, when the duty-cycle of the PWM signal is very short, the activation dead-time can undesirably shorten the activation of the high-side switch, and can possibly prevent activation of the high-side switch entirely, thus introducing distortion in the output signal.

SUMMARY

One embodiment includes a power supply system. The system includes a pulse-width modulation (PWM) system configured to generate a PWM signal. The system also includes a power stage comprising a gate driver, a high-side switch, and a low-side switch. The gate driver can be configured to alternately activate the high-side and low-side switches to provide an output signal to a load in response to the PWM signal, and to provide an activation dead-time between the alternate activation of the high-side and low-side switches. The system further includes a digital delay system configured to measure the activation dead-time and to add the activation dead-time to the activation of the high-side switch.

Another aspect of the invention includes a method for compensating for a PWM dead-time in a power supply system. The method includes generating a PWM signal and alternately activating a high-side switch and a low-side switch based on the PWM signal to generate an output signal at a switching node interconnecting the high-side low-side switches. The method also includes measuring a high-side activation dead-time in digital time increments between a rising-edge of the PWM signal and a rising-edge of the output signal. The method further includes adjusting the alternate activation of the high-side and low-side switches based on the measured high-side activation dead-time.

Another aspect of the invention includes a power supply system. The system includes a pulse-width modulation (PWM) system configured to generate a PWM signal. The system also includes a power stage comprising a gate driver, a high-side switch, and a low-side switch. The gate driver can be configured to alternately activate the high-side and low-side switches to provide an output signal to a load in response to a control signal, and to provide an activation dead-time between the alternate activation of the high-side and low-side switches. The system further includes a digital delay system. The digital delay system includes a delay circuit comprising a plurality of measurement stages that each correspond to a digital time increment and are configured to measure a high-side activation dead-time corresponding to a number of digital time increments between a rising-edge of the PWM signal and a rising-edge of the output signal, and to provide a delay signal having a pulse-width equal to the number of digital time increments. The digital delay system also includes a PWM adjust circuit configured to generate the control signal based on the PWM signal and the delay signal, such that the control signal has a pulse-width that is substantially equal to a sum of the pulse-width of the PWM signal and the delay signal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a power supply system in accordance with an aspect of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates another example of a power supply system in accordance with an aspect of the invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a timing diagram in accordance with an aspect of the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a delay circuit in accordance with an aspect of the present invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a pulse-width modulation (PWM) adjust circuit in accordance with an aspect of the present invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example of a method for compensating for a high-side activation dead-time in accordance with an aspect of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This disclosure relates generally to electronic circuit systems, and specifically to dead-time compensation in a power supply system. A power supply system can include a pulse-width modulation (PWM) system that is configured to generate a PWM signal. As an example, the PWM signal can correspond to regulation of an output signal, or can be generated to provide a desired magnitude of the output signal. The power supply system can also include a power stage that generates the output signal. The power stage can include a gate driver that is configured to alternately activate a high-side switch and a low-side switch based on the PWM signal. The alternate activation of the high-side and low-side switches can be such that the gate driver provides an activation dead-time between activation of each of the high-side and low-side switches. As described herein, the term “high-side activation dead-time” corresponds to an activation dead-time between a rising-edge of the PWM signal and activation of the high-side switch, and the term “low-side activation dead-time” corresponds to an activation dead-time between a falling-edge of the PWM signal and activation of the low-side switch. The power supply system can also include a digital delay system that is configured to measure the high-side activation dead-time in digital time increments and to add the high-side activation dead-time to the activation of the high-side switch.

The digital delay system includes two delay circuits and a PWM adjust circuit. The digital delay systems alternately measure the high-side activation dead-time by measuring a difference between a rising-edge of the PWM signal and a rising-edge of the output signal. The digital delay systems can each include a plurality of sequentially-connected measurement stages that each correspond to a digital time increment, such that the high-side activation dead-time is measured in the digital time increments. The delay circuits thus alternately provide the measured high-side activation dead-time to the PWM adjust circuit to add the high-side activation dead-time to a pulse-width of the PWM signal. Therefore, for a given pulse of the PWM signal, one of the delay circuits measures the high-side activation dead-time while the other adds the high-side activation dead-time associated with the immediately preceding pulse of the PWM signal to the current pulse of the PWM signal. The PWM adjust circuit is configured to generate a control signal that is associated with the addition of the high-side activation dead-time to the PWM signal. Thus, the control signal can have a rising-edge that is approximately concurrent with the rising-edge of the PWM signal, but can have a falling-edge that is delayed with respect to the PWM signal by the high-side activation dead-time, as provided by the delay circuits.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a power supply system 10 in accordance with an aspect of the present invention. The power supply system 10 is configured to generate an output signal OUT based on an input voltage V_(IN). The output signal OUT is provided to a load 12, demonstrated in the example of FIG. 1 as a constant current source. The load 12 can be representative of, for example, a series connection of an inductor and a resistor. The power supply system 10 can be implemented in a variety of power applications, such as in an audio application.

The power supply system 10 includes a pulse-width modulation (PWM) system 14, a power stage 16, and a digital delay system 18. The PWM system 14 is configured to generate a PWM signal having a pulse-width that is associated with a desired magnitude of the output signal OUT. For example, the PWM system 14 can generate the PWM signal in response to an input signal (not shown), such that the pulse-width of the PWM signal can be set by the input signal. As another example, the PWM signal can be generated based on a feedback voltage associated with the output signal OUT and/or the load 12. The power stage 16 is configured to generate the output signal OUT based on the PWM signal. For example, the power stage 16 can include a gate driver, a high-side switch, and a low-side switch. The gate driver can generate activation signals to alternately activate the high-side and low-side switches to generate the output signal OUT that is provided to the load 16. The activation of the high-side and low-side switches can include an activation dead-time, such as a predetermined delay time that is applied between activation of each of the switches. Therefore, the gate driver in the power stage 16 can ensure that the high-side and low-side switches are not concurrently activated to short the input voltage V_(IN) to a low voltage rail (e.g., ground).

The digital delay system 18 is configured to measure the high-side activation dead-time and to add the measured high-side activation dead-time to the activation of the high-side switch in the power stage 16. For example, the digital delay system 18 can include at least one delay circuit that is configured to digitally measure a difference between the rising-edge of the PWM signal and a rising-edge of the output signal OUT, which thus corresponds to the high-side activation dead-time. As an example, the high-side activation dead-time can be measured by substantially equal and sequential measurement stages that each correspond to a plurality of digital time increments. The delay circuit could then provide the measured high-side activation dead-time to a PWM adjust circuit that is configured to add the measured high-side activation dead-time to a falling-edge of the PWM signal. For example, the PWM adjust circuit can generate a control signal that is provided to the gate driver in the power stage 16, with the control signal being based on the PWM signal and the measured high-side activation dead-time. The activation of the high-side switch by the gate driver can thus include the measured high-side activation dead-time based on the control signal.

Accordingly, the high-side activation dead-time is added to the PWM control activation of the high-side switch in the power stage 16. As a result, distortions associated with insufficient activation time or non-activation of the high-side switch, such as can degrade a total harmonic distortion (THD) associated with the power supply system 10 based on the introduction of the high-side activation dead-time, can be substantially mitigated. In addition, because the digital delay system 18 measures the high-side activation dead-time at each pulse of the PWM signal between a rising-edge of the PWM signal and a rising-edge of the output signal OUT, the digital delay system 18 continuously monitors the high-side activation dead-time in a closed-loop manner for more accurate tracking of the high-side activation dead-time to provide for a more resolute operation of the power supply system 10 than typical systems that may implement open-loop application of the high-side activation dead-time. Furthermore, because the digital delay system 18 is configured as a digital system for measuring and adding the high-side activation dead-time using an arrangement of logic, the digital delay system 18 can be implemented in a much less complex and less expensive solution than a comparable analog solution.

FIG. 2 illustrates another example of a power supply system 50 in accordance with an aspect of the invention. The power supply system 50 is configured to generate an output signal OUT based on an input voltage V_(IN). The output signal OUT is provided to a load 52, demonstrated in the example of FIG. 1 as a constant current source. The load 52 can be representative of, for example, a series connection of an inductor and a resistor. The power supply system 50 can be implemented in a variety of power applications, such as in an audio application.

The power supply system 50 includes a PWM system 54, a power stage 56, and a digital delay system 58. The PWM system 54 is configured to generate a signal PWM having a pulse-width that is associated with a desired magnitude of the output signal OUT. For example, the PWM system 54 can generate the signal PWM in response to an input signal (not shown), such that the pulse-width of the signal PWM can be set by the input signal. As another example, the signal PWM can be generated based on a feedback voltage associated with the output signal OUT and/or the load 52.

The power stage 56 includes a gate driver 60, a high-side switch N₁ and a low-side switch N₂. The power stage 56 is configured to generate the output signal OUT at a switching node 62 based on alternately activating the high-side and low-side switches N₁ and N₂ based on respective high-side and low-side switching signals HS and LS. The activation of the high-side and low-side switches N₁ and N₂ based on the respective high-side and low-side switching signals HS and LS can include an activation dead-time, such as a predetermined delay time that is applied between activation of each of the switches. For example, the high-side activation dead-time can include a predetermined delay time that is applied after a rising-edge of the signal PWM before activation of the high-side switch N₁ based on the activation signal HS, and the low-side activation dead-time can include a predetermined delay time that is applied after deactivating the high-side switch N₁ via the activation signal HS before activation of the low-side switch N₂ via the activation signal LS. Therefore, the gate driver 62 can ensure that the high-side and low-side switches are not concurrently activated to short the input voltage V_(IN) to a low voltage rail, demonstrated in the example of FIG. 2 as ground.

The digital delay system 58 includes a first delay circuit 64, a second delay circuit 66, and a PWM adjust circuit 68. The first and second delay circuits 64 and 66 are configured to alternately measure the high-side activation dead-time and to alternately provide the measured high-side activation dead-time to the PWM adjust circuit 68, demonstrated in the example of FIG. 2 as via respective delay signals DLY1 and DLY2. In the example of FIG. 2, the first and second delay circuits 64 and 66 and the PWM adjust circuit 68 are each provided a clock signal CLK that can have a frequency corresponding to two periods of the signal PWM. The second delay circuit 66 is provided the clock signal CLK via an inverter 70, such that the first and second delay circuits 64 and 66 operate concurrently but alternately with respect to their respective functions. Therefore, the alternate measurement and providing of the high-side activation dead-time by the first and second delay circuits 64 and 66 can be such that the first delay circuit 64 measures the high-side activation dead-time associated with a given pulse of the signal PWM while the second delay circuit 66 provides the high-side activation dead-time associated with the immediately preceding pulse of the signal PWM to the PWM adjust circuit 68 via the delay signal DLY2. Accordingly, for the next pulse of the signal PWM, the second delay circuit 66 measures the high-side activation dead-time while the first delay circuit 64 provides the high-side activation dead-time associated with the immediately preceding pulse of the signal PWM to the PWM adjust circuit 68 via the delay signal DLY1.

The measurement of the high-side activation dead-time can be based on measuring a difference between the rising-edge of the signal PWM and a rising-edge of the output signal OUT. Each of the first and second delay circuits 64 and 66 can include a plurality of measurement stages that each correspond to a digital time increment. As an example, the plurality of measurement stages can each be configured as multiplexer/buffer stages, as described in greater detail herein. Therefore, the high-side activation dead-time by the respective first and second delay circuits 64 and 66 can be measured in the digital time increments.

The PWM adjust circuit 68 is configured to receive the measured high-side activation dead-time via the delay signals DLY1 and DLY2 and add the measured high-side activation dead-time to the signal PWM. In the example of FIG. 2, the PWM adjust circuit 68 is configured to generate a control signal CNTL that can correspond to an adjusted version of the signal PWM. For example, the control signal CNTL can have a rising-edge that is approximately concurrent with the signal PWM and can have a pulse-width that is a sum of the pulse-width of the signal PWM and the measured high-side activation dead-time added to the pulse-width. The control signal CNTL is thus provided to the gate driver 60 in the power stage 56, such that the gate driver 60 is configured to generate the high-side and low-side activation signals HS and LS based on the control signal CNTL. As a result, the high-side activation signal HS can remain asserted for additional time that approximately corresponds to the high-side activation dead-time associated with the previous pulse of the signal PWM. Accordingly, the high-side switch N₁ can remain activated for a duration that approximately corresponds to the pulse-width of the signal PWM based on the PWM adjust circuit 68 adding the measured high-side activation dead-time to the signal PWM in generating the control signal CNTL. As a result, distortions associated with insufficient activation time or non-activation of the high-side switch, such as can affect a THD associated with the power supply system 50, can be substantially mitigated.

It is to be understood that the power supply system 50 is not intended to be limited to the example of FIG. 2. For example, the power supply system 50 can include a variety of additional circuit components to operate to generate the output signal OUT that is provided to the load 52. For example, the power supply system 50 can include capacitive and/or resistive components to provide filtering and/or feedback control of the power supply system 50.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a timing diagram 100 in accordance with an aspect of the present invention. The timing diagram 100 includes a plurality of signals of the power supply system 50 demonstrated over time. In the example of FIG. 3, the signals include the clock signal CLK, the signal PWM, the control signal CNTL, the high-side activation signal HS, the low-side activation signal LS, and the output signal OUT. Therefore, reference is to be made to the example of FIG. 2 in the following description of the example of FIG. 3.

At a time T₀, the signal PWM is asserted while the clock signal CLK is at a logic-low state. The PWM adjust circuit 68, being provided the signal PWM, substantially concurrently asserts the control signal CNTL. During the time T₀, the high-side activation signal HS is logic-low, and thus the output signal OUT at the switching node 62 is at approximately zero volts. At the time T₀, in response to the signal PWM being asserted, the low-side activation signal LS is de-asserted. To prevent a shoot-through current from the input voltage V_(IN) to ground, the gate driver 60 implements a predetermined high-side activation dead-time with respect to assertion of the high-side activation signal HS for activating the high-side switch N₁. Therefore, in response to the rising-edge of the signal PWM, the gate driver 60 delays assertion of the high-side activation signal HS by a predetermined time, thus asserting the high-side activation signal HS at a time T₁. In response to the assertion of the high-side activation signal HS, the high-side switch N₁ is activated, which couples the input voltage V_(IN) to the switching node 62 to increase the output signal OUT. While the example of FIG. 3 demonstrates that the output signal OUT increases at the time T₁, and thus the same time that the high-side activation signal HS is asserted, it is to be understood that the output signal OUT increases in response to the activation of the high-side switch N₁ based on the assertion of the high-side activation signal HS, and thus at a time just subsequent to the assertion of the high-side activation signal HS.

Beginning at the time T₀, the digital delay system 58 can begin measuring the high-side activation dead-time. For example, based on the state of the clock signal CLK, the first delay circuit 64 can begin timing a number of predetermined digital time increments corresponding to the high-side activation dead-time in response to the rising-edge of the signal PWM. In response to the rising-edge of the output signal OUT at approximately the time T₁, the first delay circuit 64 can stop timing the number of predetermined digital time increments corresponding to the high-side activation dead-time. After stopping the timing of the number of the predetermined digital time increments corresponding to the high-side activation dead-time, and thus completing measurement of the high-side activation dead-time, the first delay circuit 64 can store the measured high-side activation dead-time, as described in greater detail herein, such that the measured high-side activation dead-time can be provided to the PWM adjust circuit 68 for adding the measured high-side activation dead-time to a next pulse of the signal PWM.

At a time T₂, the signal PWM is de-asserted while the clock signal CLK remains at the logic-low state. The PWM adjust circuit 68, being provided the signal PWM, substantially concurrently de-asserts the control signal CNTL, and thus the high-side activation signal HS. The high-side switch N₁ is therefore deactivated, which sets the output signal OUT to approximately zero volts. It is to be understood that the substantially concurrent de-assertion of the signal PWM and the control signal CNTL is demonstrated in the example of FIG. 3 for purposes of explanation or to demonstrate initial operation of the power supply circuit 50 (i.e., the pulse of the signal PWM beginning at the time T_(o) being the first pulse). During normal operation of the power supply system 50, the control signal CNTL has a falling-edge that is delayed relative to the falling-edge of the signal PWM based on the addition of the high-side activation dead-time to the falling-edge of the signal PWM, as described in greater detail herein.

At the time T₂, in response to the signal PWM being de-asserted, the gate driver 60 implements a predetermined low-side activation dead-time with respect to assertion of the low-side activation signal LS for activating the low-side switch N₂. Thus, the gate driver 60 can prevent shoot-through current from the input voltage V_(IN) to ground. Therefore, in response to the falling-edge of the signal PWM, the gate driver 60 delays assertion of the low-side activation signal LS by a predetermined time, thus asserting the low-side activation signal LS at a time T₃. In response to the assertion of the low-side activation signal LS, the low-side switch N₂ is activated, which couples the switching node 62 to ground.

At a time T₄, the clock signal CLK switches to a logic-high state. Thus, the functions of the first and second delay circuits 64 and 66 reverse with respect to the next pulse of the signal PWM. At a time T₅, the signal PWM is asserted. The PWM adjust circuit 68 substantially concurrently asserts the control signal CNTL. At the time T₄, in response to the signal PWM being asserted, the low-side activation signal LS is de-asserted. As described previously, to prevent the shoot-through current from the input voltage V_(IN) to ground, the gate driver 60 implements the predetermined high-side activation dead-time with respect to assertion of the high-side activation signal HS for activating the high-side switch N₁. Therefore, in response to the rising-edge of the signal PWM, the gate driver 60 delays assertion of the high-side activation signal HS by the predetermined time, thus asserting the high-side activation signal HS at a time T₆. In response to the assertion of the high-side activation signal HS, the high-side switch N₁ is activated, which couples the input voltage V_(IN) to the switching node 62 to increase the output signal OUT.

Beginning at the time T₅, the digital delay system 58 can again begin measuring the high-side activation dead-time. Because the state of the clock signal CLK is logic-high at the time T₆, as opposed to the time T₀, the second delay circuit 66 can begin timing a number of predetermined digital time increments corresponding to the high-side activation dead-time in response to the rising-edge of the signal PWM. In response to the rising-edge of the output signal OUT at approximately a time T₆, the second delay circuit 66 can stop timing the number of predetermined digital time increments corresponding to the high-side activation dead-time. After stopping the timing of the number of the predetermined digital time increments corresponding to the high-side activation dead-time, and thus completing measurement of the high-side activation dead-time, the second delay circuit 66 can store the measured high-side activation dead-time, such that the measured high-side activation dead-time can be provided to the PWM adjust circuit 68 for adding the measured high-side activation dead-time to a next pulse of the signal PWM (e.g., during the next logic-low state of the clock signal CLK).

At a time T₇, the signal PWM is de-asserted while the clock signal CLK remains at the logic-high state. During the logic-high state of the clock signal CLK, the PWM adjust circuit 68 receives the delay signal DLY1 from the first delay circuit 64, with the delay signal DLY1 corresponding to the high-side activation dead-time that was measured between the rising-edge of the signal PWM at the time T₀ and the rising-edge of the output signal OUT at approximately the time T₁. The PWM adjust circuit 68 is thus configured to add the measured high-side activation dead-time provided by the delay signal DLY1 to the falling-edge of the signal PWM in generating the control signal CNTL. Therefore, the PWM adjust circuit 68 delays the falling-edge of the control signal CNTL by approximately the high-side activation dead-time measured between the rising-edge of the signal PWM at the time T₀ and the rising-edge of the output signal OUT at approximately the time T₁. At a time T₈, the PWM adjust circuit 68 de-asserts the control signal CNTL. As a result, the gate driver 60 thus likewise de-asserts the high-side activation signal HS to deactivate the high-side switch N₁ at the time T₈. As a result, the high-side switch N₁ remains activated for a duration that is approximately equal to the length of the pulse of the signal PWM based on the addition of the high-side activation dead-time to the falling-edge of the pulse of the signal PWM, such that the output signal OUT can be generated at a sufficient level based on the activation of the high-side switch N₁. Accordingly, the digital delay system 58 is configured to substantially mitigate distortion of the output signal OUT to compensate for introduction of the high-side activation dead-time to the operation of the gate driver 60.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a delay circuit 150 in accordance with an aspect of the present invention. The delay circuit 150 can correspond to one of the first and second delay circuits 64 and 66 in the example of FIG. 2. Therefore, reference is to be made to the example of FIG. 2 in the following description of the example of FIG. 4. For example, each of the first and second delay circuits 64 and 66 can be configured substantially similar to the delay circuit 150.

The delay circuit 150 includes a selection circuit 152 and a plurality N of sequentially connected measurement stages 154, where N is a positive integer greater than one. Each of the measurement stages 154 can correspond to a digital time increment for measuring the high-side activation dead-time. In the example of FIG. 4, each of the measurement stages 154 includes a two-input multiplexer 156 and a buffer 158, with the output of the multiplexer 156 being provided to the input of the buffer 158. The sequential connection of the measurement stages 154 is such that the output of the buffer 158 of a given one of the measurement stages 154 is coupled to a first input of the multiplexer 156 in a next respective measurement stage 154 in the sequence and to a second input of the multiplexer 156 in a previous respective measurement stage 154 in the sequence. In the example of FIG. 4, the first input of a respective multiplexer 156 is demonstrated as a “1” input and the second input of a respective multiplexer 156 is demonstrated as a “2” input. The multiplexer 156 and the buffer 158 of each of the measurement stages 154 can be substantially process-matched components based on fabrication, such that the characteristics of the multiplexers 156 and the characteristics of the buffers 158 can be approximately the same for each of the measurement stages 154.

In the example of FIG. 4, the first input of the multiplexer 156 associated with the first of the sequential measurement stages 154, demonstrated in the example of FIG. 4 as the “1” stage, receives the signal PWM. In addition, the buffer 158 associated with the first measurement stage 156 provides the delay signal DLY, which is also coupled to the first input of the multiplexer 156 in a next respective measurement stage 154 in the sequence. Furthermore, in the example of FIG. 4, the second input of the multiplexer 156 associated with the last of the sequential measurement stages 154, demonstrated in the example of FIG. 4 as the “N” stage, is coupled to a low-voltage rail (e.g., ground).

Each multiplexer 156 of the measurement stages 154 receives an input selection signal SEL that is generated by the selection circuit 152 based on the clock signal CLK, the output signal OUT, and signal PWM. As an example, the input selection signal SEL can have three states: a first state corresponding to the first input of the multiplexers 156, a second state corresponding to the second input of the multiplexers 156, and a third state corresponding to a hold state of the multiplexers 156. For example, the selection circuit 152 can correspond to a set of logic devices that are arranged to generate the input selection signal SEL in one of the three states based on a combination of states of the clock signal CLK, the output signal OUT, and the signal PWM. Initially, the logic-state at the first and second inputs of each of the multiplexers 156 in each of the measurement stages 154 can be set to logic-low.

During a first state of the clock signal CLK corresponding to measurement of the high-side activation dead-time (e.g., the logic-low state of the clock signal CLK in the example of FIG. 3), the input selection signal SEL can be set to the first state in response to a rising-edge of the signal PWM (e.g., at the time T₀). The rising-edge of the signal PWM can thus signify the delay circuit 150 to begin timing the high-side activation dead-time, as described previously in the example of FIG. 3. In the first state of the input selection signal SEL, each of the multiplexers 156 of the respective measurement stages 154 passes the first input to its respective output, and thus to the buffer 158 of the respective measurement stage. Therefore, the multiplexer 156 of the first measurement stage 154 passes the logic-high state of the signal PWM to the buffer 158, which asserts the delay signal DLY and passes a logic-high state output to the first input of the multiplexer 156 of the second measurement stage 154. The logic-high state therefore is sequentially passed from one measurement stage 154 to the next measurement stage 154 in the sequence (e.g., left-to-right/numerically ascending in the example of FIG. 4) for a duration of time that the input selection signal SEL is held in the first state.

As described previously, the high-side activation dead-time is measured between the rising-edge of the signal PWM and a rising-edge of the output signal OUT. Therefore, in response to a rising-edge of the output signal OUT (e.g., at the time T₁), the selection circuit 152 can change the state of the input selection circuit SEL from the first state to the third state. Therefore, the multiplexers 156 of each of the measurement stages 154 hold the respective outputs, regardless of the states of the first and second inputs. Accordingly, the buffers 158 of each of the measurement stages 156 no longer pass the logic-high state to the next measurement stage 154 in the sequence. Each of the multiplexers 156 and each of the buffers 158 of each of the respective measurement stages 154 has an associated delay time for passing the respective logic-high state from input to output, which can be approximately equal for each of the measurement stages 154 because the multiplexer 156 and the buffer 158 of each of the measurement stages 154 can be substantially process-matched components. Accordingly, the measurement stages 154 can each correspond to an approximately equal digital delay time in passing the logic-high state from one measurement stage 154 to the next. As a result, the high-side activation dead-time can be measured by the delay circuit 150 in digital time increments that each correspond to the number of measurement stages 154 that passed the logic-high state between the rising-edge of the signal PWM and the rising-edge of the output signal OUT based on the duration of time of the first state of the input selection signal SEL before the change to the third state. In the third state of the input selection signal SEL, the delay circuit 150 maintains the delay signal DLY at the logic-high state, such that the delay circuit 150 stores the measured high-side activation dead-time to be added to the next pulse of the signal PWM (e.g., in the control signal CNTL).

During a second state of the clock signal CLK corresponding to addition of the high-side activation dead-time to the pulse of the signal PWM (e.g., the logic-high state of the clock signal CLK in the example of FIG. 3), the input selection signal SEL can remain in the third state until the falling-edge of the signal PWM. In response to the falling-edge of the signal PWM (e.g., at the time T₇), the input selection signal SEL can be set to the second state. The falling-edge of the signal PWM can thus signify the delay circuit 150 to begin adding the measured high-side activation dead-time, as described previously in the example of FIG. 3. In the second state of the input selection signal SEL, each of the multiplexers 156 of the respective measurement stages 154 passes the second input to its respective output, and thus to the buffer 158 of the respective measurement stage 154.

Therefore, based on the second state of the input selection signal SEL, the multiplexer 156 of the N^(th) measurement stage 154 passes the logic-low state of the low-voltage rail (e.g., ground) to the buffer 158, and the buffer 158 of the N^(th) measurement stage 154 passes a logic-low state output to the second input of the multiplexer 156 of the preceding (e.g., N-1) measurement stage 154. Additionally, the multiplexers 156 of each of the respective measurement stages 154 to which the logic-high state was not passed during the measurement of the high-side activation dead-time (e.g., the first state of the clock signal CLK) also passes the logic-low state to the next preceding measurement stage 154 in the sequence (e.g., right-to-left/numerically descending in the example of FIG. 4). In addition, the multiplexers 156 of each of the respective measurement stages 154 to which the logic-high state was passed during the measurement of the high-side activation dead-time (e.g., the first state of the clock signal CLK) also passes the logic-high state to the next preceding measurement stage 154 in the sequence. The delay signal DLY thus remains in the logic-high state during the second state of the input selection signal SEL until the logic-low state is passed to the output of the first measurement stage 154, at which time the delay signal DLY is de-asserted to the logic-low state, and the logic-state at the first and second inputs of each of the multiplexers 156 in each of the measurement stages 154 is set to logic-low.

As described previously, the high-side activation dead-time was stored in the delay circuit 150 based on the number of the measurement stages 154 through which the logic-high state had propagated in each of the digital time increments during the first state of the clock signal CLK (i.e., the measurement state of the delay circuit). Therefore, because the amount of time to propagate the logic-low state through each of the measurement stages 154 is approximately equal to the amount of time to propagate the logic-high state through each of the measurement stages 154, then the propagation of the logic-low state during the second state of the clock signal CLK (i.e., the addition state of the delay circuit) from the time that the input selection signal SEL is switched to the second state at the falling-edge of the signal PWM to the time that the delay signal DLY is de-asserted to the logic-low state is approximately equal to the measured high-side activation dead-time. Therefore, as described in greater detail herein, the de-assertion of the delay signal DLY can correspond to the falling-edge of the control signal CNTL.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a PWM adjust circuit 200 in accordance with an aspect of the present invention. The PWM adjust circuit 200 can correspond to the PWM adjust circuit 68 in the example of FIG. 2, and can be configured to receive the delay signal DLY from the delay circuit 150 as one of the respective signals DLY1 and DLY2. Therefore, reference is to be made to the example of FIGS. 2-4 in the following description of the example of FIG. 5.

The PWM adjust circuit 200 includes an SR-latch 202, a NOR gate 204, and a multiplexer 206. The SR-latch 202 receives the signal PWM at the “S” input, receives the output of the NOR gate 204 at the “R” input, and provides the control signal CNTL at the “Q” output. The NOR gate 204 receives the signal PWM and a signal DLYX at respective inputs. The multiplexer 206 receives the first and second delay signals DLY1 and DLY2 at respective first and second inputs, and receives the clock signal CLK as a selection input. The PWM adjust circuit 200 is therefore configured to generate the control signal CNTL based on the signal PWM and the delay signal DLY, as provided in the example of FIG. 4, which corresponds to a given one of the signals DLY1 and DLY2 based on the state of the clock signal CLK.

Initially, the clock signal CLK can have a logic-low state (e.g., prior to the time T₄), such that the “1” input is selected for the multiplexer 206 to provide the first delay signal DLY1 as the signal DLYX. For example, the first delay signal DLY1 can have logic-high state corresponding to the delay circuit 150 having measured the high-side activation dead-time associated with the immediately preceding pulse of the signal PWM. The first delay signal DLY1 can remain at the logic-high state based on the selection circuit 152 providing the input selection signal SEL at the third state to hold the values of the respective multiplexers 156.

Upon a rising-edge of the signal PWM, the “S” input of the SR-latch 202 is logic-high and the “R” input of the SR-latch 202 is logic-low based on the output of the NOR gate 204. In response, the SR-latch 202 asserts the control signal CNTL, such that the control signal CNTL has a rising-edge at approximately the same time as the rising-edge of the signal PWM (e.g., the time T₅). Upon a falling-edge of the signal PWM (e.g., the time T₇), the “S” input of the SR-latch 202 is logic-low, but the “R” input of the SR-latch 202 remains logic-low according to the output of the NOR gate 204 based on the state of the signal DLYX remaining logic-high. In response, the SR-latch 202 maintains the control signal CNTL at the logic-high state. In addition, in response to the falling-edge of the signal PWM, the selection circuit 152 changes the input selection signal SEL to the second state to begin adding the measured high-side activation dead-time to the falling-edge of the signal PWM. Thus, the first delay signal DLY1 (e.g., the delay signal DLY in the example of FIG. 4) remains logic-high until the number of digital time increments (e.g., the number of measurement stages 154 having output the logic-high state) corresponding to the measured high-side activation dead-time have expired (e.g., at the time T₈).

Upon expiration of the measured high-side activation dead-time (e.g., at the time T₈), based on all of the measurement stages 154 outputting the logic-low state, the first delay signal DLY1 is de-asserted. In response, the signal DLYX is likewise de-asserted, which changes the output of the NOR gate 204 from a logic-low state to a logic-high state. Upon the “R” input of the SR-latch 202 being de-asserted to the logic-low state, the control signal CNTL is likewise de-asserted to the logic-low state. Accordingly, the falling-edge of the control signal CNTL is delayed relative to the falling-edge of the signal PWM by approximately the high-side activation dead-time. Because the gate driver 60 in the power stage 56 is controlled based on the control signal CNTL, the high-side switch N₁ can remain activated for a duration that is approximately equal to a pulse-width of the signal PWM while still activating after the high-side activation dead-time. Therefore, the power supply system 50 can operate in a manner in which distortion resulting from the introduction of the high-side activation dead-time is substantially mitigated.

As described previously, the clock signal CLK can have the logic-low state during this addition of the high-side activation dead-time to the signal PWM in generating the control signal CNTL. Therefore, during this time in which the clock signal CLK has the logic-low state, the delay circuit 150 that is configured to provide the second delay signal DLY2 can measure the high-side activation dead-time of the pulse of the signal PWM (e.g., between approximately the time T₅ and the time T₆). After the time T₈, in response to the clock signal CLK switching from the logic-low state to the logic-high state, the multiplexer 206 can provide the signal DLYX as the second delay signal DLY2. Accordingly, the PWM adjust circuit 200 can generate the control signal CNTL based on adding the measured high-side activation dead-time associated with the pulse of the signal PWM described previously, as provided by the second delay signal DLY2, to the falling-edge of the next pulse of the signal PWM.

In view of the foregoing structural and functional features described above, certain methods will be better appreciated with reference to FIG. 6. It is to be understood and appreciated that the illustrated actions, in other embodiments, may occur in different orders and/or concurrently with other actions. Moreover, not all illustrated features may be required to implement a method.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example of a method 250 for compensating for a high-side activation dead-time in accordance with an aspect of the present invention. At 252, a PWM signal (e.g., the signal PWM generated by the PWM system 54) is generated. At 254, a high-side switch (e.g., the high-side switch N₁) and a low-side switch (e.g., the low-side switch N₂) are alternately activated (e.g., by the gate driver 60) based on the PWM signal to generate an output signal (e.g., the output signal OUT) at a switching node interconnecting the high-side low-side switches (e.g., the switching node 62). At 256, a high-side activation dead-time is measured (e.g., by one of the first and second delay circuits 64 and 66) in digital time increments between a rising-edge of the PWM signal and a rising-edge of the output signal. At 258, the alternate activation of the high-side and low-side switches is adjusted (e.g., by the PWM adjust circuit 68) based on the measured high-side activation dead-time.

What have been described above are examples of the invention. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or method for purposes of describing the invention, but one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that many further combinations and permutations of the invention are possible. Accordingly, the invention is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications, and variations that fall within the scope of this application, including the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A power supply system comprising: a pulse-width modulation (PWM) system configured to generate a PWM signal; a power stage comprising a gate driver, a high-side switch, and a low-side switch, the gate driver being configured to alternately activate the high-side and low-side switches to provide an output signal to a load in response to the PWM signal, and to provide an activation dead-time between the alternate activation of the high-side and low-side switches; and a digital delay system configured to measure the activation dead-time and to add the measured activation dead-time to the activation of the high-side switch.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the digital delay system comprises a PWM adjust circuit configured to generate a control signal in response to the PWM signal, the control signal having a pulse-width that is greater than the PWM signal by an amount that is approximately equal to the measured activation dead-time, the control signal being provided to the gate driver for alternately activating the high-side and low-side switches.
 3. The system of claim 2, wherein the PWM adjust circuit comprises: a NOR gate configured to generate a reset signal in response to the PWM signal and a delay signal associated with the measured activation dead-time; and an SR-latch configured to generate the control signal in response to the PWM signal being provided to an S input and the reset signal being provided to the R input.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the digital delay system comprises at least one delay circuit configured to measure the activation dead-time in digital time increments and to delay a falling-edge of the PWM signal by a number of digital time increments that is approximately equal to the measured activation dead-time.
 5. The system of claim 4, wherein the at least one delay circuit comprises a plurality of measurement stages that are sequentially-connected and that each correspond to a respective one of the digital time increments, the plurality of measurement stages being configured to propagate a first binary value through sequential ones of the plurality of measurement stages in a first direction between a rising-edge of the PWM signal and a rising-edge of the output signal, and to propagate a second binary value through the sequential ones of the plurality of measurement stages in a second direction opposite the first direction subsequent to a falling-edge of the PWM signal.
 6. The system of claim 5, wherein each of the plurality of measurement stages comprises a digital buffer and a multiplexer, the digital buffer comprising an input that is coupled to an output of the multiplexer and an output that is coupled to non-corresponding inputs of respective multiplexers associated with two respective adjacent ones of the plurality of measurement stages.
 7. The system of claim 6, wherein the multiplexer associated with each of the plurality of measurement stages being configured to control propagation of the first and second binary values in the respective first and second directions based on selection of the non-corresponding inputs of the respective multiplexers in each of the plurality of measurement stages in response to a common selection signal.
 8. The system of claim 6, wherein the digital buffer associated with a first of the plurality of measurement stages comprises an output that is coupled to a first input of the multiplexer associated with a respective adjacent one of the plurality of measurement stages and to a delay line that provides a delay signal associated with the measured activation dead-time, and wherein the multiplexer associated with a second of the plurality of measurement stages opposite the first of the plurality of measurement stages comprises a second input that is non-corresponding with respect to the first input and which is provided a constant logic-zero signal.
 9. The system of claim 1, wherein the digital delay system comprises a first delay circuit and a second delay circuit, the first and second delay circuits being configured to alternately measure the activation dead-time and alternately add the measured activation dead-time to the pulse-width of the PWM signal, such that for each pulse of the PWM signal, one of the first and second delay circuits is configured to measure the activation dead-time associated with the respective pulse of the PWM signal and the other of the first and second delay circuits is configured to add the activation dead-time associated with an immediately preceding pulse of the PWM signal to the pulse-width of the PWM signal.
 10. The system of claim 1, wherein the alternate measurement and addition of the activation dead-time is based on a clock signal that is asserted through every other pulse of the PWM signal, such that a measured activation dead-time is added to a next subsequent activation of the high-side switch.
 11. A method for compensating for a high-side activation dead-time in accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the method comprising: generating a PWM signal; alternately activating a high-side switch and a low-side switch based on the PWM signal to generate an output signal at a switching node interconnecting the high-side low-side switches; measuring a high-side activation dead-time in digital time increments between a rising-edge of the PWM signal and a rising-edge of the output signal; and adjusting the alternate activation of the high-side and low-side switches based on the measured high-side activation dead-time.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein adjusting the alternate activation of the high-side and low-side switches comprises adding the high-side activation dead-time to a pulse-width of the PWM signal to generate a control signal, wherein alternately activating the high-side and low-side switches comprises alternately activating the high-side and low-side switches with the high-side activation dead-time therebetween to generate the output signal based on the control signal.
 13. The method of claim 11, wherein measuring an high-side activation dead-time comprises propagating a first binary value through a sequential plurality of measurement stages that each correspond to a respective one of the digital time increments in a first direction between the rising-edge of the PWM signal and the rising-edge of the output signal.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein adjusting the alternate activation of the high-side and low-side switches comprises: propagating a second binary value through the sequential plurality of measurement stages in a second direction opposite the first direction subsequent to a falling-edge of the PWM signal; and setting an activation time of the high-side switch based on adding a quantity of the digital time increments corresponding to the propagation of the second binary value through the sequential plurality of measurement stages to a pulse-width of the PWM signal.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein propagating the first binary value comprises selecting a first input of a multiplexer associated with each of the sequential plurality of measurement stages via a first state of a selection signal, and wherein propagating the second binary value comprises selecting a second input of the multiplexer associated with each of the sequential plurality of measurement stages via a second state of the selection signal, wherein the first and second states are determined based on the PWM signal, the output signal, and a clock signal.
 16. The method of claim 11, wherein measuring the high-side activation dead-time and adjusting the alternate activation of the high-side and low-side switches comprises: measuring the high-side activation dead-time associated with a given pulse-width of the PWM signal in the digital time increments during a first state of a clock signal; and adding the digital time increments associated with a measured high-side activation dead-time associated with an immediately preceding pulse-width of the PWM signal to the given pulse-width of the PWM signal during the first state of the clock signal.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein measuring the high-side activation dead-time and adjusting the alternate activation of the high-side and low-side switches further comprises: implementing the second delay circuit to measure the high-side activation dead-time associated with the given pulse-width of the PWM signal in the digital time increments during a second state of the clock signal; and implementing the first delay circuit to add the digital time increments associated with the measured high-side activation dead-time associated with the immediately preceding pulse-width of the PWM signal to the given pulse-width of the PWM signal during the second state of the clock signal.
 18. A power supply system comprising: a pulse-width modulation (PWM) system configured to generate a PWM signal; a power stage comprising a gate driver, a high-side switch, and a low-side switch, the gate driver being configured to alternately activate the high-side and low-side switches to provide an output signal to a load in response to a control signal, and to provide an activation dead-time between the alternate activation of the high-side and low-side switches; and a digital delay system comprising: a delay circuit comprising a plurality of measurement stages that each correspond to a digital time increment and are configured to measure a high-side activation dead-time corresponding to a number of digital time increments between a rising-edge of the PWM signal and a rising-edge of the output signal, and to provide a delay signal having a pulse-width equal to the number of digital time increments; and a PWM adjust circuit configured to generate the control signal based on the PWM signal and the delay signal, such that the control signal has a pulse-width that is substantially equal to a sum of the pulse-width of the PWM signal and the delay signal.
 19. The system of claim 18, wherein the delay circuit is a first delay circuit comprising a first plurality of measurement stages that each correspond to the digital time increment and are configured to measure the high-side activation dead-time corresponding to a first number of digital time increments between the rising-edge of the PWM signal and the rising-edge of the output signal during a first state of a clock signal, and to provide a first delay signal having a pulse-width equal to the first number of digital time increments during a second state of the clock signal, the system further comprising a second delay circuit comprising a second plurality of measurement stages that each correspond to the digital time increment and are configured to measure the high-side activation dead-time corresponding to a second number of digital time increments between the rising-edge of the PWM signal and the rising-edge of the output signal during the second state of the clock signal, and to provide a second delay signal having a pulse-width equal to the second number of digital time increments during the first state of the clock signal, wherein the PWM adjust circuit is configured to generate the control signal based on the PWM signal and the first delay signal during the second state of the clock signal and based on the PWM signal and the second delay signal during the first state of the clock signal.
 20. The system of claim 18, wherein the plurality of measurement stages are sequentially-connected and are configured to propagate a first binary value through sequential ones of the plurality of measurement stages during a first state of the clock signal, and to propagate a second binary value through the sequential ones of the plurality of measurement stage in a second direction opposite the first direction subsequent to a falling-edge of the PWM signal to provide the delay signal at the first binary value during the second state of the clock signal. 